[stephen f. polyak]

My experience with sub-component/subassembly ID plates, like those shown here for the Bf 110, confirms that the model designation on a plate (e.g., C-1 or C-2) may sometimes not match the model designation of the host airplane (e.g., E-2). The reason for this is simple, certain standard parts were sometimes used/reused on various models without change to the (original) plate or plate entries. (Although, as shown here, the MIAG plate was updated, by restamping, from C-1 to C-2.) Given the many production, repair, and remanufacturing processes employed to produce and sustain large numbers of parts under deteriorating wartime circumstances, finding a part marked for one model on a different model comes as no surprise. Gotha and MIAG plates like these are both common on Bf/Me 110 airframe parts, but do not typically provide an airplane’s main W.Nr. The armor panel marked W.Nr. 3722 is a fortunate indicator of the likely origin of this wreckage. That said, yes, the armor also could have been used on another plane without having the W.Nr. revised.